Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698947370352.pdf (Uganda)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT TO PROMOTE NATIONAL MORAL CONSCIOUSNESS AND SOCIAL ETHICAL NORMALCY Madam Speaker, It is of historic importance that we the Members of Parliament have been given an opportunity to debate one of the most important motions ever to be presented on the floor of this House.

The timing of this debate is propitious.

For this, permit me to salute you, for leading the way, yet again, in a matter that has overwhelming implications for Uganda.
Why is this debate so important and timely now?

Madam Speaker, Uganda is standing at the doorstep of take off stage to a middle income status but this feat is being threatened and disfigured by forces of moral decay and depravity which are creeping to imperil our motherland.
To be more precise Madam Speaker, we are witnessing in our country systematic erosion as well as corrosion of our moral values such as honesty, carel accountability, transparency, thrift, respect and integrity to an alarmingly dangerous degree that we have not seen before.

If unchecked, this development is likely to undermine, in both medium and long term, the sovereignty, securit5i, unity, stability and prosperity of Uganda.
More ominous is that it is already causing ravaging effects at the family, workplace and government levels.

Noting that something is not right in so far as the psychologr, social, economic and political chemistry of 1 Ugandans is concerned, most Ugandans are yearning for urgent steps to be taken to resuscitate a morally flailing Uganda.

Madam Speaker, never before has any other subject been so emotive and fundamental in as far as Uganda's fortunes are concerned.
There is growing concern in the population that at the current speed of moral decline, our social and cultural fabric could spiral out of control and consequently pose, like no other phenomenon has done before, grave danger to the cohesion, stability, social order, viability, integrity and respectability of Uganda.

Examples abound which point to the fact that our Ugandan society is experiencing moral decline.
These include: high levels of dishonesty, run-away greed, low levels of accountability and transparency, lack of integrity, distribution of condoms in places of convenience, commercialization of politics, disrespect for road traflic laws, sexual harassment, sex for jobs, sex for marks in institutions of higher learning, underage sex and marriages, selling of vacancies and jobs in schools and public service respectively, promotion of perversions such as homosexuality, rampant stealing of public funds with impunity by officials many of whom have formed cartels or syndicates as well as acceptance of bribes by government employees for services that should otherwise be provided free.
2 Madam Speaker, in primary and secondary schools, some teachers and headmasters have transmogrified into shadowy figures of the underworld with a view to procure and sell examination papers to students, pupils and parents.

Yet, these educators are the ones society has entrusted with bringing up children who are virtuous, empowered and ethical!
Madam Speaker, for officials who by choice and ethical disposition, have chosen a morally upright, trustful, frugal and ethical path while executing their public duties, they run a risk of being labeled by society as foolish or stupid if materially and financially they are found wanting.

They also run a risk of persecution, isolation and punishment.
As this is happening, there have emerged, in public service, cartels and syndicates of corrupt officials which have proved hard to beat by both the Inspector General of Government.

In the New Vision newspaper dated 8th January, 2019, the Auditor General is reported to have said that in FY2017 / 18, Ushs.835b was misappropriated, misused or stolen from government coffers!

It is disheartening to know that this pilfering of national resources is going on all the time.
Sadly, only a handful of individuals are ever apprehended, prosecuted or even convicted for causing enormous government losses.

As this is going on, many young people are growing up today with an exaggerated sense of entitlement, a presumption, Madam Speaker, that society owes them a living and a predisposition to 3 want to con their way to greatness.

What is driving such motivation is a demonic spirit of materialism.
This spirit breeds greed, selfishness, avarice and covetousness all of which are deepening moral decadence in our society to an extent that has made both greed and selfishness overriding national values.

Moral decline is a-lso being witnessed in the conduct and behavior of an increasing number of citizens who include political leaders, policy makers, religious leaders, civil servants, businessmen/women, youth and parents.
More and more people are feeling they have the right to do whatever they want even though they know it is at the expense of others.

In other words, the death of civility is underway in our society.

At the political level, our democracy has come under threat from Ugandans who believe that violent contest as opposed to dialogue and compromise should be the norm when resolving differences.

Raucous events in Parliament last year, demonstrate very succinctly this disturbing development.
Madam Speaker, we saw then and continue to witness in this very House wanton and deliberate disregard of Rules of Procedure of Parliament by some members.

Apparently, their behavior is motivated by a false belief that the more rowdy, cantankerous and disruptive one is, the more one is likely to improve one's political stock with one's voters and the media!
As a consequence of this outlandish behaviour, both our public standing as Members of 4 Parliament as well as the quality of our debates have suffered a nosedive.

I could go on and on.

Madam Speaker, if this insidious moral decline which is creeping upon us continues to play up unabated to its logical conclusion, it is likely to have far reaching and dire repercussions for our motherland.
A prolonged, uncontrolled and unstoppable trend of moral and ethical decline could, if no drastic measures are taken to avert it, also firmly anchor Uganda into a catastrophic state of non governability, underdevelopment, dependence, exploitation and domination by external interests whose affinity for their inverted morality such as homosexuality is now legendary.

Madam Speaker, in order to reverse the ongoing overbearing spectre of moral decline, a radica-l rethink is needed.
Granted that Martin Luther King Jr. observed that morality cannot be legislated but he also noted that behavior can be regulated.

The first step to take in order to reverse moral decline, should be to ask ourselves tough questions such as: (i) Why are moral and ethical standards on the decline in Uganda?

(ii) What factors or circumstances are accelerating the ongoing moral decay?

(iii) What has gone wrong?

(iv) How have we got to this point?


(v) What are implications of the current moral atrophy for our society?

(vi) What can be done to return Uganda on to an ethical and moral pedestal?

5 Finally Madam Speaker, the current worrying state of ethics and morality in our country cannot be ignored any longer.

A tipping point is about to be reached.

Addressing this state of affairs would return hope to Ugandans.

It would serve to redeem our image as legislators.


It would also reset parameters for a corruption-free and ethically and morally driven society.

Additionally, it would also lead to national unity, good governance, equitable development, civilized public discourse, mutual political accommodation and coexistence, consolidated national independence as well as enhanced sense of public and individual obligations.
Voters would be empowered to use criteria or considerations such as ethics, morality and character in their determination of a candidate's suitability to represent them.

The burden of ensuring that lives of Ugandans are conditioned and informed by ethical and mora-lva-lues will fall squarely on shoulders of those who love God.

Madam Speaker, I beg to move!

Dr 8.,m ba Buturo R OF PARLIAMENT 6